Eobeet baebee



(N0 Model.) 1

R. BARBER.

PLACER womzgm- AND GONGBNTRATOR. No. 246,707. Patanted St. 6,1881.

INVBNTORF WITNESSES: v

o'W/W ATTORNEYS.

NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT BARBER, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BUROHARDHENRY ADOLPH SIEFKEN, OF SAME PLACE.

PLACER WORKER AND CONCENTRATOR.

I AW

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,707, datedSeptember 6, 1881.

Application filed April 1, 1881. (No modeld To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT BARBER, of Omaha, in the county of Douglasand State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Improvement inPlacer WVorkers and Concentrators, ofwhich thefollowingisaspecification.

Figure l is a longitudinal section through my apparatus. Fig.2 is avertical section on the line a; :r, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a view of a portionof the main washer, showing the arrangement of the double series ofperforated blades or screens within said washer, the conveyingflightsattached to said screens, and the receiving and discharging spouts toand from the same, said blades or screens being shown flat, that theirconstruction may be more easily understood. Fig. 4 shows a modificationof the periphery of the main washer.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus used in placer-mining,whereby the ores 0r tailings are disintegrated, sifted, and washedpreparatory to an amalgamating process.

I more particularly describe myinvention as follows:

The feeding-chute O conveys the material into the side of the mainwasher or disintegrater A, which revolves horizontally in the direct-ionindicated by the arrows. Its outer end is closed, and is supported bythe shaft a in the j ourn al-bearin g a. The discharge-spout A, whichopens into theinterior of the washer, for purposes hereinafterdescribed, supports it centrally at its opposite end in the hearingm.The periphery of said washer A is composed of perforated blades or lidsa, which are preferably hinged to open inwardly on rods a, secured inboth ends of the washer. These lids a may open and close by their owngravity, or may be closed by a spring. I prefer to cause a positiveopening of said lids by means of the brackets 0, which are attached totheir outer face and act against the guide N. Through the openings somade the material from the chute 0 passes into the washer A, the weightof said material causing a closing ofthe hinged lids a at the point Kindicated in the drawings. Said lids a may be held against undueswinging movement, and made to conform to a circle at the periphery ofthe washer by means of hooks b, or an overlapping of their outer edgesupon the adjacent hinge of the lid be hind them.

Within the lids a, and at a suitable distance therefrom, a series ofscreens, B, of proper mesh, and provided with spiral conveyersor flightsB, are firmly secured to both ends of the washer A, which flights carrythe material over the screens 13 to the end of the washer farthest fromthe feeding-chute O and a continuation of said flights, as at B conveyssaid material into the inner series of screens, O,upon which flights Oare secured in a spiral the reverse oftheouterseriesofflights,B,causingsaidflights O to convey the materialback to the end of the washer next to the chute O, and a continuation ofsaid flights O, as at 0 conveys all the coarser material which willnotpass through the screens B and G into the central spout, A, fromwhich it is discharged from the machine.

Underneath the revolving washerA is placed the receiving-tank D, intowhich the sittings from A fall. A series of nozzles, E, connected with asupply-pipe, G, conduct streams of water R, which forcibly impinge uponthe siftings falling from the washer A and carry them up to a secondseries of nozzles, H, connected with the supply-pipe J, which in likemanner, by water-jets T, carry the sifted material up to the overflow K,from which it passes into the side of the auxiliary washer F. Saidwasher F revolves freely in bearings, and is provided with a series ofscreens, F, flights F and central discharge-tube, P, which are similarin construction and operation to the inner series, 0, O, and A, in theinterior of the main washer A, except thatthe mesh of the screens F isfiner than that of the screens 0. The sittings from the washer F fallinto a tank or series of tanks, L, provided with overflow-pipe I. Saidtank L is also fitted with partitions L T, which cause the alternatepassage of the water and tailings above and below them, the undulatingcurrent insuring a proper settling of the tail- 1n s.

fijWO series of riffles, d and d, are employed in combination with thetank D and nozzles E and H, as in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that the chute. O, for feeding the material to themachine, instead of being placed at one end of the washer A, as in Fig.3, may extend the entire length of said washer, and the material be fedthereto from the full width of the chute or only at one end or side ofsaid wide chute, as circumstances may require.

It is also obvious that instead of hinging the lids a, as shown in Fig.1, the same might be provided with flights and fixed rigidly to the endpieces of the washer in an open position and a small distance apart, asshown in Fig. 4.

The necessary force of. water through the discharge-nozzles E and H maybe obtained from a natural head, or by the use of pumpingengines of anysuitable construction.

My improved apparatus may be operated by steam, water, or otheravailable power.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent-- 1. The washer A, provided with lids a,screens or sifters B and O, carrying flights or conveyers B and C, and acentral discharging-spout,

A, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination, with the hinged lids a on washer A, of the bracketsO and guide N, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The auxiliary washer F, having screen buckets or blades F, withflights F secured thereon, and a central discharge-spout, P,substantially as and for the purposes 'set forth.

4. The combination, with the screens B, having spiral flights B B andarranged at both ends of washer A, of the screens 0, having flights 0 Carranged in a spiral the reverse of that of the flights B, as and forthe purpose described.

5. The combination of nozzles E, connected with supply-pipe G, nozzlesH, connected with supply-pipe J, rifiles d d, and overflow K, with thetank I) and washers A F, as and for the purpose specified.

ROBERT BARBER. Witnesses J. W. SCHOELPLY,

F. H. SOHWALENBERG.

